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TFC deals Wynne to Colorado for LaBrocca

Toronto FC figures to be making plenty of roster moves before the MLS transfer window closes, but one of its first major moves came Thursday, with the club shipping defender Marvell Wynne to Colorado for midfielder Nick LaBrocca and a third-round pick.

Wynne became expendable after the emergence of Nana Attakora, while Nick LaBrocca became surplus to requirements in Colorado after the arrival of Jeff Larentowicz.

With Wynne, Colorado now has a speedy right back who can cover the wing, while LaBrocca could wind up in a central midfield role for Toronto, which could move Sam Cronin into a right wing role.

What's our take? LaBrocca is a quality, underrated and underpaid player who should offer some versatility in midfield for Toronto. Wynne can be a very good right back when he's on form, but he's a high-priced player who has struggled with inconsistency in the past. Throw in the third-round pick TFC is receiving and Toronto gets the edge in this deal. Now, that said, if Wynne can ever find consistent form, he could help the Rapids defense enough to make Colorado a playoff qualifier, which would make the trade a win for the Rapids.

What do you think of the deal? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. …or, better yet: No playoffs and just Cups during the season. Thus, making the Supporter Shield relevant and THE worth-while goal/silverware.

    Though, that’s in a perfect world not ruled by a single-entity with Eastern teams representing the Western Conference and vice versa in consecutive years.

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  2. Ever notice that whenever a Western Conference team and Eastern Conference team do a deal, Ives always says the Eastern Conference team got the better end.

    Case in point, the Colorado-DC United deal a few years ago, which Ives dubbed as one of the most lopsided deals of all time in favor of DC United. It wasn’t great for the Rapids, but it completely destroyed DC United. They have never been the same.

    This is another deal that won’t be “great” for Colorado, since they already had a right back (Drew Moor), but it is going to be horrible for Toronto. They now weaken an already shaky back line.

    Mo Johnson = Rafa Benitez. He goes out and gets a bunch of guys whom he likes, regardless if fit the team or not. Then (of course) it is someone else’s fault when it fails.

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  3. so… Harden, Peterson and Labrocca

    I don’t get it… if Preki wanted to coach in Colorado so badly, why didn’t he go there o_O??

    Seriously though, it’s not exactly what I want to see but at least it’s building depth with a cost effective player. For the love of God though… CB and ST, pleeease!!! I’ve never been so scared after reading ESPN’s assessment of TFC. Building the defense around Garcia!?!?!?

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  4. I can see Mo but not Preki. Although many supporters are dismayed with the current state of the team we know the source of the problem and its not Preki. Preki has the sympathy and support of the supporters especially as he hasnt played a game yet and is starting to get a chance to mold the team in his image. Mo on the other hand has outstayed his welcome.

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  5. I predict Mo Johnston + Preki gone by June. Pressure is too much for Preki in Toronto. He told the media to get on his side yesterday or he won’t talk to them anymore …can you believe that a soccer coach telling a soccer friendly media off in North America…this must be a first. Johnston has all but gone into hiding and will turn on Preki

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  6. TFC shock me every season – when are they going to get some strikers or wingers who are going to make defenses sweat? The great crowd and atmosphere up in the north can only last so long while they continually watch the grass grow on the field…

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  7. Well, Preki has shown to build from the back first and while I do think that Wynne is a hard worker, what he brings to TFC is not what they need. I think TFC needs some more stability in the back than what Wynne could bring.

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  8. TFC got a good one in LaBrocca. I’m going miss Nick. He is good hard working player that is extremely underrated as most people have stated above. Best of luck to him, except when he plays the Rapids.

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  9. wrong martha, he had two very good youth coaches (one of which developed Ashley Young) another who has helped develop numerous canadian talents neither of which were able to straighten his kinks out. He is an athlete not a soccer player but we do wish him the best of luck at Colorado.

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  10. He played there poorly several times. Unfortunately his talent lies almost totally in speed and no where else. Good luck to him tho he is a hardworker and we do respect him for his years at TFC

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  11. Wynne is a player who shoulda went overseas where his immense physical tools coulda been developed.

    Those skills wasted with sub par coaching in Toronto.

    if he was the with the Fire they woulda developed him like Soumare Conde and Segares

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  12. Kimura has twice the brain power of Wynne and he scores an occasional goal. Makes me wonder if they are looking at another role for him…

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  13. The more I think about it the more I am starting to agree with you. This might be a better move for TFC. Time will eventually tell though. Wynne could continue to be shaky and inconsistent or he could sell for a $5 million transfer fee in 2 years to Europe.
    Who knows? But TFC wants the playoffs and Colorado can probably take the chance.

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  14. As a Youth International, Wynne looked like a man among boys…alas, among men, he has looked like a boy among men when it comes to playing the game. Still, his speed is incredible and he can often (but not always) make up for his mistakes. What really seems to kill him is his crossing, which is random at best.

    Didn’t TFC experiment with him in midfield? Of course, that would only emphasize the crossing problem.

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  15. La Brocca played a lot at right midfield last season, mostly as a stopgap. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where he lines up with Toronto. He’s the sort of smart, hardworking player that fits the Preki mold. No frills, either.

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  16. Coaches have been trying to reform Wynne for years. I doubt it’s ever going to get anywhere. You’ll pull your hair out at how bad his defensive mistake are, or how his amazing runs end with a lack of an end product due to being technically underwhelming.

    Some people are upset but i’m happy to have LaBrocca on the roster.

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  17. As a Rapids supporter it is tough to see LaBrocca go to TFC, but this trade makes sense. First of all, Mastroeni, and Larentowitz will control the midfield with Ballouchy coming off the bench. Colin Clark and Jamie Smith will be out wide. Kosuke Kimura was our only true option at RB and Wynne will help out in the position. Hopefully Wynne’s football smarts will continue to develop with Gary Smith and Steve Guppie.

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  18. Look for O’Brien White to score a few this year. He’s got a good nose for the goal. That said, that’s about they got and he’s still young/unproven.

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  19. Wynne is overrated. He’s got physical tools but no soccer sense. That’s been the case ever since he came to TFC, but the clock is ticking on whether he’ll ever learn the game. He’s almost near the end of that age window where prospect labels disappear and we come to the realization he’s just an average MLS player.

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  20. Rapids were too light at RB (Only Kos’) and too heavy in the defensive Center Mid (Larentowicz, Mastroeni, and LaBrocca). We are used to having a speedy RB in Kos’. So Wynne should be a good fit there.

    It just disturbs me when these trades happen at the last minute. It’ll be longer than 24 hours for Wynne to get used to playing with Colorado, likewise more for Colorado to become used to playing with him.

    Nick’s under-rated. No doubt about that. I hope he gets some serious play-time in TFC and does really well for them. He’s a great guy. We’ll miss him.

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  21. TFC is a model team…. but they are destined to just miss the playoffs every year…. I cant wait for the league to have 24 teams so that only a third of the teams make the playoffs…. no team with a losing record should ever make the playoffs

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  22. 1) Moving Sam Cronin to right wing is NOT smart. He is the best thing that team has going for it.

    2) Wynne is way overrated as a player and I am glad he is gone

    3) TFC will NOT have a good season.

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  23. TFC still has noone who can score. And noone who can play the wing. They’ll break their record for longest goal drought for sure this season.

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